Switch



wf-G. WEHR SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.14, 1930. w. G. wEHR Re. 17,830

SWITCH Original FledSept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f l l5 Reissued Oct.14, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. WEHR,'OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THECLEVELAND CRANE & ENGINEERING CO., 0F WICKL-IFFE, OHIO,` A CORPORATIONOF OHIO SWITCH Original No. 1,580,546, dated April 13, 1926, Serial No.58,732, filed September 26, 1925. Application for reissue filed May 26,1927. Serial No. 194,500.

This invention relates to switches for overhead monorail carrier systemsand more particularly to switches of the type in which a pivoted railsection is employed to connect a main line selectively with either aright or a left branch or with a single right or leftv branch only.

In over head carrier installation, switches of the pivoted type arecommonly employed at the junction of a main Vline with branch lines tothe right and left thereof to permit carriers to pass along the mainline or to be deflected to one of the branch lines at the right and leftthereof. Other switches of the same type are employed for connecting amain line with a single branch line which may be located either' to theright or left thereof and also for connecting the end of one line toeither of two lateral branches. Heretofore it has been necessary toprovide different switches for each of the four different connections,i. e., there have been threeway switches kand two-way switches of theYright hand type, of the left hand type and of the Y type.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a singleswitch of the pivoted type which may be used as a threeway switch, as aright orrleft hand two-way switch, or as a Y switch, lso that when tracklayouts are changed the switch is adaptable to any'of the fourpositions. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the pivotedtype in which Y the end ofthe main track rail is so joined to the end ofthe pivoted rail section that there is no gap between the adjacent endsof the carrier suppcrting flangesfof the fixed and pivoted rail sectionswhen the switch rail is positioned at an angle to the main rail.

With the above-and other objects in view, the inventionmay be said tocomprise the switch asillustrated inthe accompanying drawingshereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims,to-

gether with such variations and modifications thereof as will beapparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specification. Fig. l is a' top plan View ofthe switch; Fig. 2 is aside elevation; -Figuis afront elevation; and Fig. 4 isa longitudinalsection ktaken through the pivoted switch member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the main track section leadingto the switch is indicated by the numeral 1 and the aligned main tracksection at the opposite end of switch is indicated bythe numeral 2, andthe lateral branch tracks leading away from the switch are indicated bythe numerals 3 and 4. r["he tracks are monorail tracks each rail beingin the form of a T bar, the rail l having a web la and lateral flanges1"` upon which the carrier wheels run, and the rails 2, 3 and 4 being4of the same cross section as rail 1 Vhaving webs 2, 3a and 4a, andlateral flanges 2", 3b and 4b.

The switch ias a rigid supporting frame which is substantiallytriangular in shape and has converging side bars 5 and 6 which aresecured together at the apex of the frame, the frame being supported atthe apex by means of a suspension rod or bolt 7 and the end of the raill being supported from the apex of the frame by means of a hanger 8rigidly secured to the under side 'of the frame. and 6 are connected byan arcuate angle bar 9 which has an inwardly extending horizontal flange10 and a vertical flange l1. 'Three spaced rail hangers l2 `are rigidlysecured to the under side of the bar 9 and supportvthe ends of the rails2, 3 and 4 leading away from the switch, each hanger l2 being connectedto the lower end of asuspension rod 13,. The switch supporting frame issupported by the 'susoensipn rod 7 at one end and by the threesuspension rods 13 at the opposite end and The opposite ends of theside'bars 5A also supports the ends of all the rails leading to and fromthe switch.

A pivoted switch member is mounted upon the triangular supporting frameand this switch mernbercomprises anupper supporting y `bar 14 and a railsection 15, which is rigidly secured to the upper bar and lies beneaththe same in the plane of the fixed track ralls. The

switch member is pivoted adjacent the apex 'of the supporting frameandthe yfree end f thereof is slidablysupported upon the arcuateangiebar 9 the free end of the upper bar 14 vbeing slidably upon` theinwardlyextendmg fla-nge ofthe arcuate bar. .The rail section 15 issuspendedadjacent the free end there-"` ofby a hanger 16` which isrigidly secured to@ y the under side ofthe upper bar 14. At the ltaxisof the switch member; 1 .is cut to substantially the same curvatureoppositecendof the rail jsection a vertical" plvotpostlisrlgldlysecured,tothe top there- .20.

of and 4this pivot posteXtends through and is rotatable in a fixedhorizontal plate 18 secured to the hanger 8 and a horizontal plate 19secured'to the under sides of the side bars 5 and (y of the frame `adjacent the apex thereof.

Theinnerend of the upper bar 14 rests upon the top ofthe plate 19 andthepost 1T extends `throughthe end of the bar 14 and-is provided witha-nut20` at `its upper end by means of. which the pivot post andthe railsection to which it is rigidly attached are supported.`

The switch section swingsA about the post 17 @as pivot and the `freeendfthereof maybe "moved along the supportingbar 9to position `the lrailsect-101115 inahgnment with any one of the rails 2, 310124 leading rfromthe switch.

I The pivot post 17, as will be readily seen in 'Figs'. 1 and 2, ispositioned a short distance `from the end of the rail section 1 andadjacent the end-of the railsection 15 whichjis cut upon an arcthecenter of which is at the pivotal The rail section so that the convexend of the rail section 15 fitsinto the concave end of the rail 1, and,since the contiguousend faces are concentric with their' center'ofcurvature `at the pivotal axis about which the rail section `15 swings,

thetlanges 1b of the rail land k15"` ofthe rail section 15 will alwaysbecontiguous to each otl'i'er'regardlessof the angle atwhich the railsection 15 is positioned with respect to the fixed rail 1,` and carrierswill pass `smoothly from the fixed raily to the switch 'raildnanyposition of adjustment of the switchrail. n

At its free end',.the upper bar 14 of the piv` ot'ed switch member,carriesa latch bolt 23 vwhich extends longitudinally of the. bar 14a'ndfjs slidably mounted in a, casing.` secured upontheupper side of thebar.' 'The latch boltv normally projects beyond the i end fthe bar `14and is pressed outwardly by a coil springf interposed between the rearyend of casing and the bolt. f The outer end 27of they bolt 23 isreduced and tapered to enter apertures 28 in vertical flange 11 of thebar 9. The apertures 28 are located one directly above each of the threerails 2, 3 and 4, and when the latch bolt 23 engages in one ofy theseapertures, the rail section 15 is locked inalignment with one of theoutgoing rails. The bolt 23 has attached thereto a transverse abutmentbar 29 which projects laterally to opposite sides of the bolt and ismovable upon the top surface ofthe casing 24,

"thebar 29 being attached to a` lug 29 fixed to the bolt andv projectingthrough a slot 30 inthetop ofthe casingt.` Aleverl `is v'mounted toswingupon vertical pivot 32 "upon the top of 'casing' 24"'forwardly of theyabutment bar 29, and this lever has a widened inner end which bearsagainst the abutment bar 29, the ,widenedv inner; end of the leverproviding actuating projections 33 upon opposite sides of pivot 32 sothat `when the lever "31 is rocked in eitherdirection the latch boltcured tothe tops ofthe side bars 5 and 6 andl extend outwardly and v'downwardly therefrom. The free'jends of'the'cablesffi vhang verticallyfrom the'chan'nel guides 35 and have handles 36 attached to their lowerends. f

By pulling downwardly uponl one `or the other of the cahier-134, thelever 31 is` rocked upon `its pivot to push the latch bolt 23 toretracted position freeing the pivotal switch member fromthe supportingbar 9 and after the bolt l'j is released further pull will shift theswitch member about its pivot towardv the side of the supporting` framefrom which the operating `cable 3,4, which is being pulled, hangs. The

switch member maythus loe released and swung to the right or left bypulling upon the operating cable which hangs from the right or left sideof the supporting frame The? switch may he used as a three-'way switchleading to the three outgoing rails 2,

3 and 4as shown 1n Fig; 1, orany one of the three rails may be omittedand the switch may be usedas a right'hand', aleftY hand or a Y switch,dependingon the rail whichis omitted! lin order to;` adapt the switchtoy be Y used as yatwo-way right or lefthand switch, means is providedfor limiting the movement of the pivoted switch member sothat therail"15 aligns with-the two outgoing rails when in its `-ez tremepos1t1onson they arcuate sup- "Q25 portirngbar.9.l The horizontalffl'ange 10 of`ther supporting bar `9is providedwlth vfou-r apertures37 which areadapted to receiveremovable stop members 38'which are engaged by, andlimit` the movement ofthe upper bar` the rail 15 is in alignment withthe rails o and 4. If the switch is to be'used as a twoway right'handswitch, thestop member 38y at the left hand end of the supporting bar 9is moved to the aperture 37 immediately to the left of the center rail 2so that the switch member be permitted to move from a position inalignment with the rail 2 to position in alignment with the rail 3. Ifthe switchvis to be used as a left hand two-way switch,`the stop member88 at the right hand end of supporting bar 9 will be moved to theintermediate aperture immediately gto the right of center rail 2,permitting the switch member to be moved from a position in alignmentwith the rail 2 to a position in alignment with rail 4. If the switch isto be vused as a Y switch, the center rail 2 will be omitted and thecentral aperture 28 in the vertical flange 11 of the supporting bar willbe closed by a suitable plug so that the switch member will p not belocked in the intermediate position.

In order to prevent carriers from running off the ends of the two railsconnected to the supporting bar 9 which are not in alignment with therail section 15 of the switch, the upper bar 14 of the switch member hasrigidly attached thereto a pair of oppositely extended blocking arms 39which'have downwardly and outwardly curved inner end portions 40 andhorizontal end portions 41 which extend in front of the ends of therails to either side of the switch member, the curved or arched portions40' of the' arms providing suflicient clearance upon opposite sides ofthe rail section 15 to permit carriers to pass over the rail section 15beneath the arms. When the rail section 15 is in the central position asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, the horizontal portions 41 of the arms 39 lieimmediately in front of the open ends of the rails 3 and 4. When theswitch is shifted to extreme left or right hand position, the arm 39extending to the left or right, as the case may be, blocks both therails to the left or right of the switch member. In order to rigidlysupport the arms 39 and withstand the impact of carriers against thearms, the outer ends of the arms are connected by rigid braces 42 withthe support bar 14.

Having described my invention, claim is:

1. A switch for overhead tracks of the monorail type comprising a rigidsubstantially triangular supporting frame having converging side barssecured together at one end and anarcuate angle bar connecting theopposite ends, said bar having a vertical ange and an inwardly extendinghorizontal flange, a hanger for a fixed rail secured to the apex what Iof the triangular frame, a plurality of hangers for fixed rails securedto the arcuate bar, a movable switch member mounted on the fixedsupporting frame, said switch member comprising an upper bar pivoted atone end to the supporting frame adjacentv the apex thereof and havingits opposite end slidably supported on the horizontal flange of thearcuate bar, a rail section beneath the upper bar and rigidly securedthereto, and a latch carried by said upper bar and engageable with thevertical flange Aof the arcuate bar to hold the switch member indifferent angular positions on the supporting frame.

V2. A switch for overhead tracks of the monorail type comprising a rigidsubstantially triangular supporting frame having converging side barssecured together at one end and an .arcuate bar connecting the oppositeends, a depending rail hanger rigidly secured to the apex of thesupporting'frame, a plurality of rail hangers rigidly secured to thearcuate bar, a movable switch member comprising an'upper bar and a railsupported beneath the upper bar, a hanger rigidly connecting the upperbar and rail section at one end, and a pivot post rigidly connected tothe opposite end of the rail section and extending upwardly therefrom, aplate connecting the converging bars of the supporting framev and aseco-nd plate beneath'the first and rigidly secured to the hanger fixedto the apex of the supporting frame, said upper bar resting upon thefirst mentioned plate andsaid pivot post passing Vthrough said platesand-said upper bar.

monorail type comprising a rigid substantially triangular supportingframe having converging side bars secured together at one end and anarcuate bar connecting the opposite ends, a ydepending rail hangerrigidly secured to the apex of the supporting frame, a plurality of railhangers rigidly secured to the arcuate bar, a movable switch membercomprising an upper bar and a rai] supported beneath the upper-bar, andmeans adjacent the apex of thesupporting frame for pivotally supportingsaid switch member, said upper bar of the switclrmember having Iits freeend slidably supported on said arcuate bar, a spring latch carried bysaid upper bar and engageable with the arcuate bar to hold theswitchmember in y plurality of laterally spaced track rails hav-fi saidguard member to the saidcross member.

8. "In afswitch` `for suspended track 1n combination, ftvvo supportingmembersl spaced apart .horizontally'y fromk each other-,fla cross jmember supported on one member and slidfable'. onthe other member,amovabletrack "section beneath' the cross member, `and bracketsconnecting the cross memberand track section, one of tliesaid bracketsbeing jpivotally joined to avfxed track.

T l WILLIAM Gr'.` VEHR.

curing the switch member in positionsfink y which the rail sectionbridges the space between the irst mentioned track rail andone of thelaterally spacedtrack rails, and adjust- I lable stop members on thevarcuate bar in ther path of movement of theupper'ba-r of: the' .angularmovement thereof.

the switch member.`

5. A switch comprising a supporting fra-me switch member forlimi'ting`the movement of lhaving an arcuatebar at one end provided with spacedapertures, afswitch member pivoted to theiframe 'and having free'endslidf y 'able onsaid arcuate bar, and stoppins adapted tolbe secured inanyof the apertures fof the arcuate bar solas to"projectintoY the pathof Y movement of saidiswitch member to limit the j `6. 'A switch*comprising a supportingframe with a series'of spaced latch receivingaperttures and a secondaperture adjacent certain i of the latchreceiving apertures, a switch` having` an arcuate bar., at one"I endprovided member pivoted atone end* of 'the framea'nd. having,r itsopposite end slidableuponxsaid j' arcuate bar, :a latchvcarriedbythesvvitch member andadapted to engage anyone of the f latchreceiving apertures of the bar to lock the switchrmember initsfdift'erent positions, and a pin adapted to be detachably secured inyany one of the apertures adj acenta latch receiving aperture soas toproject into the path of movement of" said jsvvitchmember to limit f themovement of said direction. y 1 7 In a switch for suspended traclrincomswitch member in either vbination, vtwo supporting members spacedaparthorizontally` from eachl other,Y a cross 'member supported byandspanning space y betWeenf-the'said spaced members, aI movable f i tracksection connected toand disposed bes neatliV the` said vcross member inposition to span the 'spacebetvveenastationary traclandv j i any onev'of a-plurality'of oppositel'y disposed` stationary tracks,and'trackguard means car riedby the said cross memberin position toobstruct tracks out of alignment Witli'thesaid *i movable track section,the said' track' guard means including a guard member disposedtransversely of the said cross memberjin` guarding position With respect`to a stationary track, and a brace member extending from the

